ARE YOU & YOUR LOVED ONES PROTECTED AGAINST RABIES
ASK TOUR DOCTOR FOR PRE-EXPOSURE VACCINATION AGAINST RABIES
WHAT IS RABIES? 1,2
India reports 18,000 to 20,000 deaths due to rabies every year. About 30–60% of reported rabies cases and deaths in India occur in children under the age of 15 years, as bites that occur in children often go unrecognized and unreported.2
Rabies is a deadly disease caused by the rabies virus, which mainly affects animals.
This disease can be transmitted to humans through the infected saliva of the animals through bites or scratches or through exposure to mucous membranes such as the eyes, nose, or mouth.
The virus infects the central nervous system of mammals and causes various symptoms.
Rabies is almost 100% fatal but 100% preventable.
WHAT IS RABIES PRE-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS (PrEP)? 5
PrEP is a series of rabies vaccinations that are given to protect the person from getting rabies before they come into contact with a rabid animal or are exposed to the rabies virus in other ways. This treatment is especially helpful for people who are at a higher risk of encountering saliva, body fluids, or tissues from animals with rabies, which can increase their chances of getting infected with rabies.
After receiving the pre exposure vaccine for rabies, if someone gets exposed to the virus, they will need to have only two doses of a modern tissue/cell culture anti-rabies vaccine. In this case, they do not require rabies immunoglobulin as part of the post-exposure treatment, which is costly and difficult to procure.
FACTS: RABIES IS A MAJOR PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM 2–4
ONE DEATH
Every 15 mins worldwide
29 MILLION
People receive post-bite vaccination per year
4 OUT OF 10
Deaths are in children
99.9%
Fatal, once symptoms appear
99%
Transmissions by dogs
40%
People bitten by suspect rabid animals are <15 years old
18,000 - 20,000
Cases occur every year in India
36%
Of rabies deaths occur in India
- ONE DEATH : Every 15 mins worldwide
- 29 MILLION : People receive post-bite vaccination per year
- 4 OUT OF 10 : Deaths are in children
- 99.9% : Fatal, once symptoms appear
- 99% : Transmissions by dogs
- 40% : People bitten by suspect rabid animals are <15 years old
- 18,000 - 20,000 : Cases occur every year in India
- 36% : Of rabies deaths occur in India
WHO SHOULD CONSIDER RECEIVING PRE-EXPOSURE VACCINATION? 4,6
Children below 15 years of age
Pet owners and animal lovers
Individuals who go for early morning walks
Veterinary doctors
Laboratory workers
People visiting a part of the world where rabies is common
WHY IS PrEP AGAINST RABIES ESSENTIAL FOR CHILDREN IN INDIA? 6,7
Children are naturally playful and may not be able to protect themselves when they are attacked by dogs. They often enjoy playing with pets, but sometimes accidents happen, and they can get scratched or bitten, which may expose them to the rabies virus. This is especially true when children play outdoors, as unvaccinated community dogs are often seen on the streets or around public and school playgrounds. It is important to know that young children are more likely to be victims of rabies, and many cases go unreported or unnoticed because children may not always tell their parents about animal bites or scratches, or they may delay reporting them. This puts them at a higher risk of getting rabies without proper treatment. Administering PrEP in children can significantly prevent unnecessary deaths in this vulnerable population.
PrEP dosage schedule
PrEP for rabies typically involves a series of injections given in the muscle or just under the skin. The vaccine is usually administered in the deltoid region, which is the upper arm muscle. The PrEP schedule typically consists of three doses given on specific days. The first dose is given on day 0, the second dose on day 7, and the third dose on day 21 or 28.
3 Doses in 3 Visits
*One dose either on day 21 or day 28 as convenient. Note: Day 0 is the day of administration of the first dose of the vaccine.
IS THIS VACCINE SAFE? 7
Currently available modern vaccines are highly effective, safe and well-tolerated.
WHAT IS THE DURATION OF IMMUNITY? 7,8
The rabies vaccines we use today create long-lasting protection in our body's memory, even when the level of antibodies goes down.
Recent research suggests that a booster shot can still be effective, even if you were vaccinated a long time ago.
ADVANTAGES OF PrEP 9,10
- Makes post-exposure treatment work faster.
- Reduces the number of doses needed and eliminates the need for rabies immunoglobulin.
- Helps even if post-exposure treatment is delayed.
- If a person who has received PrEP for rabies is exposed to the virus, then the person requires only two doses of rabies vaccination, either by intramuscular or intradermal route, one dose each given on days 0 and 3.
- In cases where a person who has received PrEP for rabies is exposed to the virus, the administration of rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) or rabies monoclonal antibodies (rmAb) is typically not required. However, timely first aid and proper wound management are very important.
- Faster antibody responses to subsequent post-exposure prophylaxis
- May protect patients when post exposure treatment is delayed
References:
- All About Rabies. Available at: https://scdhec.gov/sites/default/files/ Library/CR-011896.pdf. Accessed on April 5, 2023.
- Rabies in India. Availableat: https://www.who.int/india/health-topics/rabies. Accessed on April 4, 2023.
- New global framework to eliminate rabies. Available at: https://www.woah.org/en/new global-framework-to-eliminate-rabies/. Accessed on June 09, 2023.
- Rabies. Available at: https://www.who.int/news room/fact-sheets/detail/rabies. Accessed on June 09, 2023.
- Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/preventon/pre-exposure_vaccinatons.html. Accessed on June 14, 2023.
- WHO guide for rabies pre and post-exposure prophylaxis in humans. Available at: https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/searo/india/health-topic-pdf/pep prophylaxis-guideline-15-12-2014.pdf? sfvrsn=8619bec3_2. Accessed on June 09, 2023.
- Ravish HS. Pre-exposure prophylaxis against rabies in children: safety of purified chick embryo cell rabies vaccine (Vaxirab N) when administered by intradermal route. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2014;10(2):319–320.
- WHO expert consultaton on rabies. Third report. Available at: https://apps.who.int/iris/ bitstream/handle/10665/272364/978924121021 -eng.pdf. Accessed on April 4, 2023.
- Guideline for animal bite management and frequently asked questons. Available at: https://www.wbhealth.gov.in/uploaded_files/ID P/Guideline_for_Animal_Bite_Management_FAQ 2021.pdf. Accessed on June 13, 2023.
- Rabies Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Regimen. Available at: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/rabies/ isk/preexposure.html#:~:text= Pre%2Dexposure%20vaccination%20against%20 abies,a%20known%20rabies%2 0virus%20exposure. Accessed on June 14, 2023.
Issued in public interest by:
- Pioneers in prevention of Rabies in India
- Manufacturer of India’s first Purified Vero Cell Rabies Vaccine
- Over 25 years of trust
- More than 240 million vaccinations
- International presence in more than 50 countries
- Over 3 decades of global expertise in cold chain management
